altars he built as his country improved he improved his pillars their heart is false
now they must bear their guilt the lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars
and we go to verse 9
from the day of gibier you have sinned or israel
there they have continued shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in gideon gibier
when i please i will discipline them a nation shall shall be guarded against them
when they are bound up for their double iniquity ephraim was a trained calf that loved to trash
i spared her i spared her fair neck but i will i will
but but i will put ephraim to the yoke judah must plow jacob must arrow
for himself sow for yourself righteousness reap steadfast love break up your your fellow
ground for it is for it is the time to seek the lord that he may come and rain righteousness upon you
you have clouded iniquity you have reaped injustice you have eaten the fruit of lies because you have
trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors therefore the tumult of word of war shall arise
and among your people among your people and all your for your fortresses shall be destroyed and
shulman shulman shulman's destroyed bet arbel on the day of battle mothers were dashed in pieces
with their children thus it shall be done to you or battle because because of your great evil
adorn the king of israel shall be utterly cut off amen
thanks very much kevin
well let's pray
father as we come to your word as we hear your voice
it is our desire that we would grow grow in our relationship with you that we would all flourish
that we would all become more fruitful
enjoying you knowing you and becoming like you
father may not one of us leave
without you doing an effective work
in our hearts today
grow us
make us more like yourself
in jesus we pray
amen
well i wonder if you can remember your first date
the first time that you met your prospective husband or wife
what did he or she say to you
please don't say
you're the most beautiful person i've ever met
you're my dreams come true
or maybe you're still waiting for your first date and you're wondering
what will i say
well let me give you a knockout guaranteed chat up line
here it is
finding you
was like finding a bunch of grapes
or what about this one
you're like a big
ripe fig
not very romantic is it
and you might get a slap in your face for your troubles
but this is the love language that god uses
when he married his wife israel
have a look at chapter 9 verse 10
chapter 9 verse 10
when i found israel
it was like finding grapes
in the desert
you could imagine walking through a dry
hot desert
you're tired
thirsty
and weak
and then you stumble upon this small oasis
and growing all around is this vine
full of delicious grapes
how satisfying
pleasing and refreshing
to find those grapes
that's how it was when god
came to israel
or look at the rest of verse 10
he says when i saw your fathers
it was like seeing the early fruit
on the fig tree
a farmer
watches and waits for his crop
longing for the harvest
but knowing it's going to be another few months
till there's any fruit
but to his surprise
he finds there's already ripe figs
on the tree
it's not the kind of language we use
but this is the love language god uses
as he remembers
as he looks back to that day
when he married his people
his thirst to show love was quenched
when he found them and rescued them
his longing for that relationship was fulfilled
when he chose them
to be his very own people
and it only seemed to get better
look at chapter 10 verse 1
Israel was a spreading vine
he brought forth fruit for himself
god nurtured the marriage
provided for it
cared for it
and it flourished
and his bride responded in faithfulness and obedience
these were the best of days
these were good days
and it all pictures how god longs and thirsts for us
to be in relationship with him
to know him
to enjoy him
to experience his love
that is god's desire for us
but israel's marriage to god
it did not last
look at the rest of chapter 10 verse 1
as his fruit increased
he built more altars
as his land prospered
he adorned his sacred stones
that was the place of worship
to foreign gods
so rather than give thanks to god
their faithful husband
for all his provision and care
they began to turn away
and serve other gods
chase after other lovers
building altars
and places of sacrifices
rather than a heart of love and loyalty
look at verse 2
their heart is deceitful
and now they must bear their guilt
the lord will demolish their altars
and destroy their sacred stones
it was a marriage that had started so well
but now lies in tatters
broken and ruined
and i think the heart of this message
from chapters 9 and 10 is this
that if we do not cultivate
our marriage with god
if we don't nurture
that marriage relationship
it's in danger
of going the same
way
so two big ideas
we're going to look at this morning
the first is this
reaping
an unfaithful
marriage
this is the fruit
of an unfaithful marriage
chapter 9
verse 1
israel thought themselves
quite good
and grown up
they didn't need god
they would live a life
without him
so god says to them
chapter 9
verse 1
do not rejoice
o israel
do not be jubilant
like the other nations
for you have been
unfaithful
to your god
there's nothing to be gained
by pushing god
out of the marriage
in fact
it will lead to
a return to slavery
look at verse 3
of chapter 9
god says
they will not remain
in the lord's land
ephraim
that is
god's people
israel
will return to egypt
and eat
unclean food
in assyria
egypt of course
is a symbol
for slavery
remember
that's
what israel
were
before god
had rescued
them
and married
them
they were
slaves
in a foreign
land
exodus
records
what it was
like
this comes
from exodus
chapter 1
verse 11
so they put
slave masters
over them
to oppress
them
with forced
labor
they made
their lives
bitter
with hard
labor
in brick
and mortar
and with
all kinds
of work
in the fields
in all
their hard
labor
the egyptians
used them
ruthlessly
during that
long period
which was
400 years
of slavery
the king
of egypt
died
the israelites
groaned in
their slavery
and cried out
and their cry
for help
because of
their slavery
went up
to god
now says
god
if you
walk out
on the
marriage
it would
be like
walking
straight
back
into
slavery
all over
again
verse 3
ephraim
will return
to egypt
and eat
the unclean
food
of assyria
they might
not go back
to physical
egypt
in fact
assyria
the great
nation
is going
to come
in and
take them
away to
be slaves
somewhere
else
verse 6
even if
they escape
from destruction
egypt
will gather
them
and memphis
will bury
them
memphis
of course
was the
huge
graveyard
in egypt
that was
reserved
for all
the slaves
who had
died
so either
you would
be a slave
or he's
saying you
are going
to die
a slave
walking
out on
god
will be
like
walking
straight
back
into a
life of
slavery
under a
cruel
harsh
master
leaving
your
faithful
loyal
husband
and turning
back to
something
that will
be a
burden
to you
you see
it's really
no different
for us
because
in a
greater
way
we have
been
rescued
by
jesus
from
our
slavery
to
sin
and
brought
into
a
wonderful
vibrant
relationship
with the
lord
jesus
the
apostle
paul
explains
it like
this
when
you
were
slaves
to
sin
you
were
free
from
the
control
of
righteousness
in other
words
you were
not
free
to
choose
to do
what
was
right
and
good
you
would
only
live
a
life
that
was
wrong
a
life
that
was
away
from
god
but
now
because
of
jesus
you've
been
set
free
from
sin
and
have
become
slaves
to
god
you're
under
a
new
master
and
the
benefit
of
living
under
this
master
is
you
will
reap
lives
that
lead
to
holiness
and
the
result
the
fruit
will
be
eternal
life
you
see
to
walk
out
on
our
marriage
to
walk
away
from
the
lord
is
to
walk
straight
back
into
a
life
of
slavery
to
sin
it's
to
live
under
a
cruel
harsh
master
who
will
condemn
you
and
never
forgive
you
but
not
only
will
it
be
a
life
of
slavery
it
will
be
a
life
of
sorrow
Hosea
chapter
9
verse
10
when
I
found
Israel
it
was
like
finding
grapes
in
the
desert
it's
a
reminder
of
God's
first
love
for
his
bride
Israel
but
look
what
they
did
follow
down
the
rest
of
verse
10
but
when
they
came
to
Baal
Peor
they
consecrated
themselves
to that
shameful
idol
and
became
as
vile
as
the
thing
they
loved
you
know
one
of
the
first
places
that
God's
people
came
to
when
he
rescued
them
out
of
Egypt
was
to
a
place
called
Peor
but
instead
of
remaining
faithful
to
God
at
this
place
the
men
began
to
marry
the
local
women
who
would
seduce
them
into
worshipping
other
gods
Baal
that's
why
it
became
called
Baal
Peor
and
the
book
of
Numbers
goes
into
great
detail
to
explain
what
happened
God
sent
a
plague
upon
them
and
24,000
people
died
death
was
everywhere
now
God
is
saying
to
the
people
all
these
years
later
if
you
forsake
me
to
walk
out
on
the
marriage
will
be
like
walking
back
into
a
life
of
sorrow
it
will
be
like
a
return
to
Baal
Peor
look
at
verse
11
Ephraim's
glory
will
fly
away
like
a
bird
no
birth
no
pregnancy
no
conception
even
if
they
bring
up
children
I
will
bereave
them
of
everyone
woe
to
them
when
I
turn
away
from
them
God
is
saying
these
Assyrians
will
come
in
they
will
take
you
away
to
be
slaves
but
more
than
that
it
will
be
so
harsh
and
so
brutal
that
they
will
even
wipe
out
the
women
and
the
children
death
will
be
everywhere
the
sorrow
will
be
unbearable
you
see
to
walk
out
on
God
to
walk
out
on
the
marriage
is
to
walk
out
from
life
into
death
not
just
physical
death
but
eternal
death
a
separation
from the
beauty
and goodness
of life
itself
sorrow
for all
eternity
not
just
slavery
not
just
sorrow
but
it
will
be
a
reversal
of
blessing
when
Assyria
the
great
nation
comes
in
chapter
10
verse
7
Samaria
and
its
king
will
float
away
like
a
twig
in
the
surface
of
the
waters
the
high
places
of
wickedness
will
be
destroyed
it's
the
sin
of
Israel
thorns
and
thistles
will
grow
up
and
cover
their
altars
now
whenever
we come
across
thorns
and
thistles
in the
bible
it's
always
speaking
of
curse
rather
than
blessing
remember
what
God
said
to
Adam
at
the
very
beginning
when
Adam
exchanged
the
love
of
God
for
the
lies
of
Satan
God
said
cursed
is the
ground
because
of
you
through
painful
toil
you
will
eat
of
it
all
the
days
of
your
life
it
will
produce
thorns
and
thistles
for
you
so
instead
of
blessing
there
will
be
a
curse
and
that's
what
Israel
are
going
to
experience
when
they
walk
out
from
God
the
great
nation
that
enjoyed
that
love
with
God
and
enjoyed
his
abundance
blessings
is
going
to
be
overrun
by
thorns
and
thistles
it
will
be
so
awful
look
at
the
rest
of
verse
eight
they
will
say
to
the
mountains
cover
us
and
to
the
hills
fall
on
us
it
will
be
so
unbearable
you
see
God
is
trying
to
make
it
so
clear
to
his
people
to
walk
out
on
the
marriage
is
to
walk
away
from
blessing
into
curse
in
fact
all
that
will
happen
a
return
to
slavery
a
life
of
sorrow
a
reversal
of
blessing
is
a
picture
of
greater
judgment
to
come
look
at
the
end
of
verse
8
again
of
chapter
10
they
will
say
to
the
mountains
cover
us
and
to
the
hills
fall
on
us
rather
than
endure
slavery
and
sorrow
and
curse
rather
than
have
to
face
the
Assyrians
coming
in
they
would
rather
die
quickly
in
an
earthquake
so
it
would
be
all
over
it's
a
graphic
picture
of
what
it
will
be
like
when
the
risen
Lord
Jesus
comes
in
his
final
judgment
please
keep
your
finger
in
Hosea
and
have
a
look
at
Revelation
chapter
6
Revelation
chapter
6
verse
15
it's
on
page
1
2
3
8
the
very
end
of
your
Bible
Revelation
chapter
6
and
verse
15
and
here
we
have
a
picture
of
the
risen
Lord
Jesus
who
comes
the
final
judgment
that is
to be
faced
and
John
the
author
picks up
on
some
of the
language
from
Hosea
Revelation
6
verse
15
and
to
face
the
judgment
of God
will
be
terrifying
it's
like
people
would
rather
die
in an
earthquake
quickly
than
endure
an
eternity
of
slavery
and sorrow and curse.
Verse 17,
For the great day of their wrath has come,
and who can stand?
And who of us can stand?
Because like Israel,
we've all pushed God out of the marriage.
We've all said,
No, I can do things my way.
We've all exchanged God for other things
and other people
and chased after other lovers
looking for joy and happiness.
So how will any of us stand?
Well, have a look at Revelation 7, verse 9.
Revelation 7, verse 9.
Here we get another picture.
Again, the risen Lord Jesus has come.
Verse 9,
After this,
I looked and there before me
was a great multitude
that no one could count
from every nation, tribe, people and language.
And look what they're doing.
They are standing
before the throne
and in front of the Lamb.
How can they do that?
How can they be standing?
How can they face
this risen Lord Jesus?
Well, we're told
they were wearing white robes.
And what were their white robes?
Well, look down at verse 13.
One of the elders asked me,
These in the white robes,
who are they
and where did they come from?
I answered,
Sir, you know.
And he said,
These are they
who have come out
of the great tribulation.
They have gone through the judgment.
They've passed through it.
Why?
Because they have washed their robes
and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore,
they are before the throne of God
and they serve Him
day and night in His temple.
And He who sits on the throne
will spread His tent over them.
Never again will they hunger.
Never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them
nor any scorching heat.
No more slavery.
No more sorrow.
No more curse.
They have gone through.
They have escaped
because they have trusted
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We can stand
even though we have failed
because of what Christ has done
for us.
So,
He says,
Watch out
if we are living
in an unfaithful marriage
with the Lord.
So second,
we need to cultivate
therefore a fruitful marriage.
Go back to Hosea.
You see,
if we are to avoid
a broken marriage with God,
we must learn
to cultivate
the marriage.
So let me show you
three ways
we can do this.
What it is to cultivate
a fruitful marriage.
Here's the first one.
Break open
our hard hearts.
Look at chapter 10,
verse 11.
Ephraim,
again,
that's
description of Israel.
Ephraim is a trained
heifer
that loves to thresh,
loves to bounce about
on the corn
and thresh the corn out.
So God says,
I will put a yoke
on her fair neck.
I will drive
Ephraim.
Judah must plough
and Jacob
must break up
the ground.
Ephraim,
Judah,
Jacob,
well these were all names
for God's people
and he's calling them
to plough the ground
of their hard hearts.
Just as a farmer
would put the yoke
on his cow
and head it off
into the field,
so the people
must set about
the hard work
of breaking up
their hard hearts.
We see the same imagery
in the middle
of verse 12.
Break up
your unploughed
ground
for it is time
to seek
the Lord.
You see,
the sin,
that unfaithfulness,
if it is not
dealt with,
all sin will do
is harden our hearts
and we will become
desensitised
to God's Spirit.
We no longer
become aware
of sin
and how it's
damaging us.
We continue to drift
and we're not even
aware we're drifting.
We become immune
to its effects.
So we are to
break up
the hard hearts
by seeking
the Lord,
calling out to Him
and asking Him,
Lord,
soften my heart,
break my heart
so I can be
receptive
to You.
So that's
step one,
we are to break
open our hard hearts.
Two,
we are to
sow the seed
of the gospel.
Look at
verse 12.
having broken
up the land,
he says,
sow for yourselves
righteousness.
Sow for yourselves
righteousness.
As we break up
the hard ground,
now we begin
to scatter
and sow.
And in this context,
I think righteousness
are those things
that look back
to how we first
started our relationship
with God.
It's to
re-sow
those things
that brought about
our relationship
with Him.
Things like grace,
reminding ourselves
of God's loving kindness,
how He redeemed us
and rescued us
and called us
to be His.
Feeding into our lives
His grace
day after day.
Sowing to ourselves,
if you like,
repentance,
turning back again
to God
and trusting
in Him again
in faith
that God is enough,
that He is sufficient,
He is my joy,
He is my happiness.
We are to plant
the gospel seed
into our lives
and water it
and let it
flourish.
And as we sow,
we must be careful
not to do
what Israel did.
Look at verse 13.
Israel,
what did they do?
He says,
but you have planted
wickedness
and you have
reaped evil.
You have eaten
the fruit of deception.
You see,
if we sow
the wrong kind
of seed,
if we continue
to feed
our sinful nature,
well then we'll
reap destruction,
we'll reap evil,
we'll wreak havoc
in our lives.
But instead,
if we begin
to sow the seed
of righteousness,
our hearts
will become
softened
and we will
reap something
beautiful,
something good.
Which is what
the third step is.
Having broken
open our hard hearts,
sowing the seed
of the gospel,
third,
we can now
harvest the fruit
of unfailing love.
look at verse
12 again.
Sow for yourselves
righteousness
and reap
the fruit
of unfailing love.
You see,
the farmer
who goes out
and breaks up
the hard ground
and sows
the ripe seed
will harvest
and reap
grain and fruit
in abundance.
And in the same way,
if we're breaking
up our hard hearts,
if we're sowing
the seed of righteousness,
we will in turn
harvest or reap
unfailing love.
Now that doesn't mean
if we do certain things
God is going
to love me more.
No,
God is always
steadfast in his love
towards us.
But we only
begin to experience
that love
and enjoy that love
as we cultivate
a healthy marriage.
But more than that,
not just will we
reap unfailing love,
look at the rest
of verse 12.
He says,
break up the unplowed ground
for it's time
to seek the Lord
until he comes
and showers
righteousness
on you.
What a beautiful
picture,
that image.
The raining down,
if you like,
of God's righteousness
upon us.
Just like the rain
falls from the sky
onto the hard ground
and breaks it up
and causes those seeds
to grow and flourish,
so the showers
of righteousness
will fall down
and pour down
upon our lives
and we will harvest
a life of forgiveness,
of joy and peace
and enjoyment with God.
Cultivate a fruitful marriage.
Paul takes this
a little bit further
for us.
Have a look at Galatians
chapter 6.
It's on page
1172.
Galatians chapter 6
verse 7.
On page
1172.
Galatians chapter 6
and verse 7.
So as we
come to this,
think about
what am I
reaping?
Am I reaping
an unfaithful
marriage?
Or am I
cultivating
a fruitful
marriage?
Well,
chapter 6
verse 7.
Do not be
deceived.
God cannot
be mocked.
He knows
what our hearts
are like.
He knows
what's going on.
A man
reaps
what he
sows.
The one
who sows
to please
his sinful
nature
from that
nature
will reap
destruction.
The one
who sows
to please
the Spirit
from the
Spirit
will reap
eternal
life.
you are
what you
sow.
In other
words,
what you
sow
in your
life
you will
reap.
The seeds
that you
sow
will bear
its own
fruit.
If you
sow an
apple seed,
you're going
to get
apples.
If you
throw orange
seeds in
the ground,
you're going
to get
oranges.
In the
same way,
the life
we live
now,
the choices
that we
make,
the decisions
that we're
making,
what we're
feeding into
our life
will have
consequences
and effects
either good
or bad.
And the
results will
be seen
if not
now,
then later.
The fruit
of our
actions
will be
unavoidable.
So,
verse 8,
the one
who sows
to please
his sinful
nature,
from that
nature
will reap
destruction.
to push
God out,
to ignore
him,
is only
letting sin
fester
and grow.
If you
like,
thorns
and thistles
surrounding
us,
dragging
us and
pulling
us down.
It's a
life into
slavery,
sorrow,
and curse,
and eventual
judgment.
fulfillment.
But,
the one
who sows,
verse 8,
to please
the Spirit,
from the
Spirit,
will reap
eternal
life.
To cultivate
that marriage,
to break up
our hard
hearts,
to sow
the seed
of his
word,
to sow
the gospel
deep into
our lives
continually,
we will
reap a rich
harvest,
where we
will know
God,
enjoy God,
and experience
his unfailing
love for
all eternity.
What are we
sowing?
And what are we
reaping in
our lives?
What is our
marriage
relationship with
God like
today?
What a
wonderful
invitation.
to reap
a wonderful
harvest,
as we
sow to
the Spirit,
and enrich
our lives.
Let's pray
that God
will do that
work in our
lives,
right now.
Father, we
know that
you cannot
be deceived.
You know
our hearts
better than
ourselves.
You know
exactly how
our relationship
is with
you.
other
are
you
are
your